1997 was the year of the renewal for Megadeth. Dave Mustaine and his three mates came back after three fabulous albums. Yet it must be said that since 1994 and Youthanasia, there had been a period of scarcity. So Megadeth hired a new producer , Dan Huff, a strange choice, for he was mainly known for his work in country-music. At the first listening, the word renewal seems wrong, while summary sounds righter. Cryptic Writings is actually the album of maturity.

This is a more adventurous, and more varied album than it's predecessor "Youthanasia", but it's less consistent in terms of overall quality. Songs like "The Disintegrators", "Use The Man", and "Vortex", are really great, but a couple of iffy tracks brings this one down a bit. It's not one of Megadeth's best albums, but it is far superior to "Super Collider" at any rate.

This is a more adventurous, and more varied album than it's predecessor "Youthanasia", but it's less consistent in terms of overall quality. Songs like "The Disintegrators", "Use The Man", and "Vortex", are really great, but a couple of iffy tracks brings this one down a bit. It's not one of Megadeth's best albums, but it is far superior to "Super Collider" at any rate.

which one you would say as an iffy track in this album ?

I'd say it is slightly superior to Super Collider, having less awful tunes.

Written by Mary N. on 14.11.2013 at 19:03which one you would say as an iffy track in this album ?

I've always found "Have Cool, Will Travel" to be a bit silly, and "Sin" is overall, a dull track, although I like the mid-section and the solos. I just wish they'd been attatched to a better song. lol Lyrically I find "Trust" to be cringeworthy, which definitely brings that song down a bit for me, although musically it's decent. But a terrible choice for an opening track, due to it's lack of energy.

what does me liking VoiVod (btw there's loads of their stuff I don't like) have to do with Megadeth?

I love GOOD Megadeth, which is the first four albums. But after that it just got weaker and weaker and weaker. Trying to copy Metallica's success by first selling out by playing way more melodic and then that weird experiment Risk, but failing dismally at even getting close to Metallica's popularity.

People still think this about Megadave? Why? I understand he's responsible for helping the thrash movement and he's a metal icon (for better or for worse), but he's an ego-maniacal little man with severe jealousy issues (re: what Marcel mentioned about his attempt to profit based on the success of Metallica's various changes in direction). I don't think someone with his personality type should be hailed as a "god of metal", if such a thing exists.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 15.11.2013 at 23:10People still think this about Megadave? Why? I understand he's responsible for helping the thrash movement and he's a metal icon (for better or for worse), but he's an ego-maniacal little man with severe jealousy issues (re: what Marcel mentioned about his attempt to profit based on the success of Metallica's various changes in direction). I don't think someone with his personality type should be hailed as a "god of metal", if such a thing exists.

100% correct. Dave was an immense talent, but he's also always been an idiot personality wise. Even back when he was writing classics like "Peace Sells". And he allowed his personal beef with Metallica to affect his own writing, which tainted his legacy. At least when Metallica "sold out", they did it on their own terms. Whereas Dave was simply following Metallica's lead.

Written by Angelic Storm on 16.11.2013 at 00:05Dave was an immense talent...

This is something I feel like a lot of metalheads (or at least those who aren't Megadeth fanboys) overlook about him. This album certainly doesn't act as any kind of evidence that Mustaine knows a thing or two about composition, but his talent level in his prime was pretty obvious. As you said, his legacy would have been held intact if not for his personal struggles with Hetfield's success with Metallica - not to mention instances like the one involving the tour with Rotting Christ.

Glen Benton is another example of a frontman who let his personality override his mark on the scene. Whenever I read a thread about Deicide these days, nobody's commenting on Benton's iconic status or the band's influential back catalog. They just make jokes about his behavior and call him out for being an asshole to generally everyone around him. A good example of this is the latest fiasco involving the guys in Broken Hope.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 16.11.2013 at 00:17This is something I feel like a lot of metalheads (or at least those who aren't Megadeth fanboys) overlook about him. This album certainly doesn't act as any kind of evidence that Mustaine knows a thing or two about composition, but his talent level in his prime was pretty obvious. As you said, his legacy would have been held intact if not for his personal struggles with Hetfield's success with Metallica - not to mention instances like the one involving the tour with Rotting Christ.

Glen Benton is another example of a frontman who let his personality override his mark on the scene. Whenever I read a thread about Deicide these days, nobody's commenting on Benton's iconic status or the band's influential back catalog. They just make jokes about his behavior and call him out for being an asshole to generally everyone around him. A good example of this is the latest fiasco involving the guys in Broken Hope.

Yep. He is someone probably more well known these days for his irrational behaviour than the mark he left on the metal scene with his music. Of course, he had personality issues back in the 80's as well, but at least back then he was making music that made people overlook them. And you could at least blame drugs and booze for his antics back then.

Glen Benton is similar. The first two, maybe 3 Deicide albums are generally regarded as classics of death metal, but that fact is very rarely discussed these days when people comment on Deicide. Glen's ridiculous behaviour attracts far more comment than his band's music. And again, at least back in the day, Deicide were making music of such a high quality, that Glen's headline attracting behaviour, was more like sideshow, the music was still the main attraction. These days, Deicide don't make classic music to distract from Glen's stupidity, so now, it's the music that's the sideshow, and his personality is the main thing commented on... it's sad really. lol

Written by Troy Killjoy on 16.11.2013 at 21:41You pretty much nailed it. All good things must come to and end, and when it comes to these metal "legends", they certainly come to an end in the worst possible fashions.

I just got back from a pretty lengthy hiatus. Thanks for the welcome, I've missed your insights.

Yep, there's very few legendary bands who haven't tarnished their legacy in some way, but it's always saddest when a musician's bizarre antics gets more press than their music... At least bands like Iron Maiden have their dignity intact, even if the quality of their current music isn't up to the standards their classic output.

you understand nothing in metal. rubbish like systeme of a down are better than megadeth that's so stupid ( rust in peace ,countdown ..,youthanasia...) alot of albums not only rust in peace and guitarists like friedmann ,dave ..
ah i remember that song : Such a lonely day ............ oh my heart
i advice to quite metal storm and go creating an acount in a rap or pop forum music
and in the end megadeth are hard to undestand poser

God, your spelling sucks. I can't understand shit of what you're saying. Maybe I'd actually take what you're saying seriously if I could read it.
Pretty sure whatever you said is still wrong though.

you understand nothing in metal. rubbish like systeme of a down are better than megadeth that's so stupid ( rust in peace ,countdown ..,youthanasia...) alot of albums not only rust in peace and guitarists like friedmann ,dave ..
ah i remember that song : Such a lonely day ............ oh my heart
i advice to quite metal storm and go creating an acount in a rap or pop forum music
and in the end megadeth are hard to undestand poser

Written by Mary N. on 14.11.2013 at 19:03which one you would say as an iffy track in this album ?

I've always found "Have Cool, Will Travel" to be a bit silly, and "Sin" is overall, a dull track, although I like the mid-section and the solos. I just wish they'd been attatched to a better song. lol Lyrically I find "Trust" to be cringeworthy, which definitely brings that song down a bit for me, although musically it's decent. But a terrible choice for an opening track, due to it's lack of energy.

That's funny because for me Trust is the best song to "open" the album. As someone said this album have some jazz elemnts (in "I'll Get Even" wich is interesting). A good album with some awesome songs but as you said some songs drag the album a bit down

Trust is the only reason I played this album when I was younger. I eventually just got bored of having it take so much space on my hard drive, and deleted everything but Trust. Thus breaching one of my imaginary rules: never have single songs lying around just like that. Proves how much I just love that song.

Trust is the only reason I played this album when I was younger. I eventually just got bored of having it take so much space on my hard drive, and deleted everything but Trust. Thus breaching one of my imaginary rules: never have single songs lying around just like that. Proves how much I just love that song.

Trust is the only reason I played this album when I was younger. I eventually just got bored of having it take so much space on my hard drive, and deleted everything but Trust. Thus breaching one of my imaginary rules: never have single songs lying around just like that. Proves how much I just love that song.